Tuesday January 12, 2021 - First week in Ordinary Time - Accept the word of God for what it really is: not a word of men, but the word of God - Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 1, 21-28

Dear Christians! As it was said yesterday, Jesus begins the mission that his Father entrusted to him: to save men. His mission is defined in chapter 61 of Isaiah: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me ..." Jesus traveled from city to village, going out to meet men to accomplish this mission. This confirms what we celebrated at Christmas: He himself wants to be with us so that he can free us from our weaknesses. Illnesses are also part of these weaknesses, and He did not hesitate to heal those who stood in his way. Traveling from city to village is a mission that the Church continues to do today, hence the exhortation of Pope Francis so that the Church is out and not closed in on herself if she really wants to collaborate with Jesus in his ministry of salvation.

Teaching is also an important task that pastors who represent Christ in the Church continue to do today. Jesus, too, as announced in the Gospel, taught: He taught with authority. It is by the authority of the Father that Jesus teaches and expels the unclean spirits of men. It is an authority that He gives to His representatives and to their successors and it is an inherited authority that helps us to always be in communion with Him and the Father: let us trust the authority of the Church to absolve sins? Do we have faith in his teachings that continue to this day? It is important that we have faith and trust, because this allows us to walk towards the salvation that Jesus offers us. Here even the demon professes and recognizes in Him the Holy One of God. Indeed, even while praying, some seem to hesitate, they doubt the God who wants to save them, so that they question the salvation they should enjoy. The reason for Jesus' coming is to save us and this continues through those He sent, let us not hesitate to take the opportunity to be saved.